Category Archives: North Shore Travel Tips

As we prepared for our recent trip to Canada, we realized this would be our first time bringing our dog, Maya, to stay at a hotel. For a dog that lives in an apartment, this may not be a big change. But for a dog that lives on 30 acres in a sparsely populated county, a hotel stay is a whole new adventure.

With that in mind, we wanted to make sure that this first hotel stay went well. These are a few of the things I recommend considering to make a successful hotel stay with your pup. And while preparing and planning are key, do know that there is always something that you won’t think of and will have to figure out on the fly. For us, it was forgetting that Maya had never been on an elevator (#cookcountyproblems). As we walked into the lobby that realization hit us, but it all went smoothly as we could default to the dog training we’ve done with her over the years. Using sit, stay, and heel, the first elevator experience was a new experience but not a negative or uncontrolled one. And she realized that she’d have a captive audience for being cute and getting pets with each ride!

Tips for a Successful Hotel Stay with your Dog

Know your dog. Not all dogs will do well in a hotel. Wait until your dog is mature enough; in our case, this was probably around 3 years of age for our lab (her current age). If your dog is whining, barking, or pacing the whole time, neither of you will enjoy your visit. If a hotel isn’t a good fit, what about a vacation rental cabin?

Bring items from home. This will be a brand new environment for your dog, so bring a few key items to help them feel at home, such as their bed, a few toys, etc. Things that have your dog’s or your smell on them will help. When we travel we also bring a Gulpy filled with water for on the road and use Maya’s doggie seat belt. I know, a seat belt for a dog sounds funny, but it is great for car trips to keep your pup in her spot and safe if a car accident did happen.

Research hotels. Not every hotel allows pets and even those that do have varying rules and set-ups. Figure out which hotels allow pets, what their pet fee is (usually it is per night, not per stay, and can have a wide range), and see what other factors may help your stay be a success or not. Is there a park nearby? Is there parking where you could leave your dog in the car during dinner?

Don’t leave your dog unattended in the room. Most hotels will not allow pets to be left alone and, unfortunately, it is often for good reason. Even if your dog doesn’t make a lot of noise or act destructively when you are there, they may act differently when you are not. If the hotel does allow you to leave them and they do well kenneled, it may be worth bringing a kennel. In our experience, Maya is used to spending short periods of time in the car, so we leave her during a meal in the car (of course, only if it is not too warm of a day and in a safe location).

Keep (at least part of) your usual routine. Dogs are creatures of habit and all of a sudden they are in a new location out of the blue. Keep some of their usual schedule intact while traveling and things will go smoother. Do you usually start the day with a walk? Bring your pup on a walk each morning to keep some consistency. Also, be careful about too many dog treats or other out of the ordinary food – and don’t forget their dog food at home! Consistency will help make the changes easier for your dog (and you) to manage.

Block out other noises. As our pup is used to a quieter life and alerting us when someone arrives, a hotel could be a recipe for disaster with lots of new noises. However, we found that the A/C, heater, or fan running can provide enough white noise to reduce the dog’s alerting behavior. We also found it helpful to block her from hanging out by the room door, where sounds were louder. This isn’t an issue for all dogs, but it was very helpful for ours!

Be realistic about whether it’s a good dog trip or not. Not all travel is great for dogs. Will you be spending most of your time in places where you can’t bring your dog? If so, it may be better to find a pet sitter or place to board your dog while you travel. We love to bring Maya with us, but if it is a trip that doesn’t include outdoor activities, we usually make other arrangements for her (thank you, Mom and Dad!). And if you really want to bring your dog and can plan your trip with accommodations for them, by all means, bring them! We love bringing Maya along, whether it is to the Ice Caves in the Apostle Islands or to Canada.

Happy adventures with your furry family member! Do you have any favorite tips that I missed? Please share them and I’ll add them to the list.

It’s a real outdoor enthusiast paradise on the North Shore. And if you are like us, a dog is part of your outdoors loving family. Each season brings its own dog-friendly outdoor activities, from skijoring to dock jumping. Since in many ways we have two seasons up here (winter and not winter), I’ll break down the activities that way.

Summertime

Hiking: There are miles upon miles of hiking trails on Cook County and so many of them have beautiful features like waterfalls, vista views, etc. You and your dog are welcome at pretty much all of them, although some do have restrictions. I recommend paying attention to any signage, but expect that in State Parks your dog will need to be on leash as well as in the City of Grand Marais (there is a leash law in city limits). The Superior Hiking Trail also requires that dogs be on leash. On other roads and trails, use your best judgment. This is wolf habitat and dogs have been taken. However, if you keep your dog close, pay attention, and use common sense, it’s not likely to be a problem. We do use a bell on Maya when we have her off-leash, partially as a wolf deterrent and partially so we can hear where she is if the vegetation is thick. Some favorite hiking spots are the Superior Hiking Trail along the Cascade River (starting from Pike Lake Road), Judge Magney State Park to the Devil’s Kettle, the Kadunce River trail, Oberg Mountain, the Superior Hiking Trail up from Devil Track River (across the road from the parking lot is great), and Pincushion. While I love hiking Eagle Mountain, I do not recommend it for most dogs, as parts of the hike are steep rock faces, which are not ideal for our canine companions.

Canoeing: The success of this activity greatly depends on your dog and whether you’ve habituated your dog to being in a canoe. It can be a very fun activity, especially if you are heading into the Boundary Waters and have a water-loving dog. We started training Maya to sit in the canoe when she was less than a year old and she does very well. It does take persistence and the willingness to risk getting dumped into a lake (we have never flipped the canoe with the dog). If you are looking to train your dog to the canoe, here are a few tips that worked for us.

Treats, treats, and more treats. They can be a great distraction tool and reward tool. This is especially helpful if you have a food-oriented dog. Those tiny training treats work well for this use.

Buy a little non-slip bath mat (they have them really cheap at IKEA). Before attempting any canoe time, put the mat in your dog’s kennel or where they lay regularly, so it has his/her smell on it. Then, put that in the bottom of the canoe where you want your dog to sit/lay. This helps designate his/her spot in the canoe.

Use a leash when you start. That gives you more control over your dog.

Have patience. It might take multiple times to get your dog somewhat comfortable in the canoe (it depends so much on the dog). Be prepared to have his/her first experiences be very short. I wouldn’t recommend heading out on a canoe trip with your dog if she/he has never been in a canoe. The only way this may work if you have a very small dog and someone sitting in the middle to hold him/her.

Have fun!

Dock Jumping & Swimming: Minnesota is known as the land of 10,000 lakes and we have lots of beautiful ones here. Lake Superior is obviously a favorite. Ror the hearty dog, Lake Superior is a fun lake to swim in. There are quite a few public access lakes in the county, many of which have docks. I do try to avoid the busy boat launches. Maya loves jumping off the dock to play fetch in the water, but you don’t want to be conflicting with boat users. I have found the Pike Lake boat launch typically quiet and a nice spot for the dog. If a boat user arrives while we are there, we cede the dock and area to them as that is the original purpose of the dock. Many boaters also have dogs, so keep this in mind if your dog doesn’t play well with others.

Rock Picking: The mesmerizing agate. Rock picking is a favorite pastime of many while on the North Shore and dog owners aren’t immune. As long as you pick up after your dog, respect other beach users, and stay off private property, dogs are welcome at many beaches along Lake Superior. Do pay attention to signs though, as some do not allow dogs. We will often head to the beach to play fetch with Maya in the water for a while and then do some rock picking. Warning: Lake Superior water is cold if your dog shakes on you!

Wintertime

Snowshoeing: This is our go-to winter activity, as it is much easier to do with a dog than some other winter activities. Pretty much any hiking trail is fair game for snowshoeing with your dog. The same recommendations for hiking with your dog apply here. Winter has its dangers. Be very cautious around rivers and open water. You don’t want to have your dog fall in and get pulled down stream. Pay attention to their paws, as some dogs will develop ice balls that can get painful. Booties are an option, but be prepared to lose a couple while you are out, so have some back up ones. And make sure you and your dog stay hydrated.

Skiing: This isn’t something we’ve tried yet with Maya, but many of our friends enjoy skiing with their dogs. No, the dog doesn’t get her own pair of skis. 🙂 Most ski trails do not allow dogs, but a few do. George Washington Pines, just up the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais, does welcome dogs. As always, be sure to clean up after your dog and respect other users, so dogs will continue to be welcome.

Skijoring: This is the next step up from skiing with your dog – having your dog pull you while you are on skis! We have yet to try this, but there are many local enthusiasts. Go Dog North Shore has held several clinics and races for dogs and their owners. I’d recommend going to a skijor clinic or borrow gear from a friend before investing in your own equipment. Some dogs love it but not all, and you may be hard pressed to find another use for the harnesses.

The North Shore can be a real dog paradise, whether as a permanent resident or during a dog-friendly vacation. One of the things that drew me to Grand Marais was the plentiful outdoor opportunities year-round, and most of these are amenable to dogs (although you’ll want to skip downhill skiing with your dog…). Finding outdoor activities that you and your dog will like isn’t hard up here (check out some fun ideas here), but finding a place to eat or stay with your dog isn’t quite as easy. Luckily, businesses are catching on that people love dogs up here and often have them along. We’re well on to becoming a dog-friendly Grand Marais.

Dog-friendly RestaurantsUPDATE: The Angry Trout Café no longer welcomes dogs on their patio, but there are some other Grand Marais spots that do. I’m rather sad to hear about this, but imagine that some dog owners may have ruined it for the rest of us. 🙁 If you do bring your dog with you to one of these spots to eat, please be courteous and respectful of other diners and passersby. I know that our lab when young wouldn’t have been a good fit for outdoor dining, but many dogs do great.

The Pie Place Café has outdoor seating overlooking the harbor that is dog-friendly. I have often seen people enjoying a delicious meal with their pup. The Pie Place has a great menu with lots of tasty options. They have a great breakfast menu (including a Crab Cake Benedict) and I recently enjoyed a pesto-mushroom-veggie sandwich that hit the spot.

The Java Moose has a great patio overlooking Lake Superior that is a nice spot to enjoy your morning brew with your pup. Java also provides chairs on the beach during the summertime.

Looking for a quick lunch? Stop in at the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op, where you can get a nice sandwich or cup of soup to go and then head outside. Behind the co-op along the shoreline the co-op has two picnic tables for the public to use. Grab a seat, eat a bite, and your pup can cool off in the shade under the picnic table or take in the lake breeze.

Off-leash in Town: the Dog ParkIf you are spending the day in Grand Marais and need an off-leash opportunity for your pooch to burn off some energy, swing on by the Dog Park. Located just up the hill in town, it is a rather new addition to the community. It’s a dual use facility (so if a horse is there using it, you’ll have to come back later), but it’s a fenced in place to play with your dog or meet up with some other dogs and their owners. The group that helps maintain the facility, Go Dog North Shore, hosts meet-ups and other fun events. Check out their Facebook page for up to date info.

Lodging that Welcomes DogsDog-friendly accommodations can be a real challenge in many destinations. Thankfully, the North Shore is such a popular destinations for folks to bring along their dogs, there are some options available. I previously worked for a vacation rental company that has quite a number of pet-friendly homes and cabins. In Grand Marais, both East Bay Suites and Best Western are dog-friendly hotels. These options do all charge a pet fee. Art House B&B does allow pets if you rent the full house (up to 10 guests). I’ve had brunch at Art House and all I can say is YUM!

Dog SuppliesDid you forget something for your dog or need to pick up a special treat? The Dog Hus is located in the heart of Grand Marais and carries a wide variety of dog items, from high quality food to dog toys. They also offer grooming services, if Fido has a little too much fun in the woods and needs some cleaning up.

Have you discovered another dog-friendly gem in Grand Marais or along the North Shore? Please share it in a comment below.